Unifor supports nurses

With more than 28,000 members in the health care sector, Unifor is proud to support National Nurses Week.

“Our health care system relies on the hard work of the people employed in the field, and it is important that we honour their work during this week – and all year,” National President Jerry Dias says.

National Nursing Week takes place each year during the week of May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Since its founding, Unifor has been a strong supporter of health workers, and Canada’s universal medicare system, on several fronts.

In Nova Scotia, Unifor has led the struggle against labour laws removing collective bargaining rights for health care workers. In Ontario, Unifor has worked to ensure that the vital role played by Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) in our hospitals is recognized, and that their voices are heard on health care issues and patient care.

"For many patients and their families, RPNs are the face of health care," said Katha Fortier, Unifor's Ontario Regional Director and an RPN.

Unifor has also worked to improve the wages of Personal Support Workers and to advocate for an evidenced based, minimum, measurable, enforceable standard of care in long-term care.

In April, Unifor pledged $50,000 to Canadian Doctors for Medicare, which has gained intervener status in the upcoming B.C. Supreme Court case of Dr. Brian Day, who is challenging B.C.’s ban on private health care.

“In this time of economic upheaval and uncertainty, Canadians rely on their health care system more than ever and so we commit to deepening our fight to defend the principles of the Canada Health Act and expanding its scope to include pharmacare, home care and long-term care,” Unifor’s statement on Nursing week reads.